Olympic figure skating champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara announce engagement

Engagement announcement on social media

Japanese figure skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara announced their engagement on Sunday, 23 August 2026, sharing the news publicly following their retirement from competitive figure skating. The couple, known to fans and the Japanese media under the joint moniker "Riku-Ryu", posted a photograph on Instagram showing Kihara kneeling on one knee on the ice to present an engagement ring to Miura. Kihara celebrated his 34th birthday on Saturday, 22 August, while Miura is 24 years old. The post drew immediate international attention, gathering more than 14,000 congratulatory messages within five hours of publication. The announcement marks the transition of their long-running athletic partnership into marriage.

Through both the happy times and the difficult ones, we've shared so many moments together, supporting each other every step of the way.

Competitive record from 2019 to world titles

The two skaters formed their pairs partnership in 2019, beginning a seven-year competitive collaboration. During the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Miura and Kihara helped secure a silver medal for Japan in the figure skating team event. Their career gained further momentum during the 2022–2023 season, when the pair won the Grand Prix Final and the Four Continents Championship. That campaign ended with their first victory at the World Figure Skating Championships in 2023. The duo captured a second world championship gold medal in 2025, consolidating their status at the top of the international pairs discipline.

Olympic victory at the Milano-Cortina Games

The pair reached their athletic zenith in February 2026 at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy, where they won Japan's first Olympic gold medal in pairs figure skating. Their Olympic competition began with difficulty when an error during the short program left them in fifth place. Kihara stated that he felt completely devastated after the initial setback, but the pair recovered during their free skate. Performing to the soundtrack of "Gladiator" around themes of combat, survival, and triumph, the skaters brought spectators to their feet before the music ended. They earned a world-record score to capture gold, while also contributing to Japan's silver medal in the team event. Japanese government spokesperson Minoru Kihara noted that the Olympic performance moved people across the country.

Physical setbacks and professional transition

Throughout their partnership, Miura and Kihara navigated multiple serious physical injuries. Kihara contended with recurring back problems, while the 146-centimetre (4-foot-9-inch) Miura repeatedly competed despite a chronically dislocated shoulder. On the ice, the duo became known for an affectionate rapport, with Kihara frequently carrying Miura onto and off the rink. In April 2026, two months after their Olympic gold medal in Milan, the pair formally announced their retirement from competitive figure skating to focus on professional skating shows. In their joint message, the skaters reflected on their mutual bond as they prepared for their upcoming wedding.

As we begin this new chapter, we'll continue to support each other and move forward together, one step at a time, while always staying true to who we are.